Top 25 Albums Of 1980 (Nos. 21-25)



For this week's Ranked!, we compiled the twenty-five greatest albums from 1980. Tell us what you think of our list when you get down to #1. And let us know if you would've ordered them differently.

Here are Numbers 21-25:

25. INXS, INXS

Truth be told, I came to like this album long after its release in 1980. There was some grumbling after the huge successes of Shabooh Shoobah, Listen Like Thieves, Kick, and X that their first record had just been exploration for feeling out what their sound might be, but I tend to disagree. I think it was raw but powerful in its own right with songs like "Just Keep Walking" and lots of foreshadowing of what makes INXS as foot tapping good as they are. I never bought another INXS release after Hutchence's untimely death but when I go back and listen to this early effort, it makes me smile with the knowledge that he had so much to give to a band that clearly made their own rules and rose to the top.--Dufmanno



24. Split Enz, True Colors

Do you want to hear the saddest story ever told? When I first heard this album, I ran with unbridled enthusiasm all the way over to my friend's house to use the few big words at my disposal to describe the greatness of it. I was laughed at, forcibly removed from the circle for straying from the predetermined musical boundaries, and sent home dejected. It would be many years before I would gain the courage to venture out and rediscover this classic and add it to my favorites list. Granted, I was a little late to the party as it was actually their fifth release but I got there eventually thanks to the addictive quality of Neil Finn's songwriting and his wonderful, wonderful voice. Did I emphasize how much I love his voice? Anyway, to this day I cannot hear "I Got You" on the radio without turning it up and singing along.--Dufmanno



23. Journey, Departure

Journey is a band that I consider part of my "core 80s" music. Back then I considered Journey to be "rock" music and I guess it was compared to, say, Culture Club or Wham. Nowadays, I know it for the pop that it is--but I still love their stuff, especially Escape and Frontiers (the first two of their albums that made it into my collection). Departure isn't up to the standards of those two later albums, but the Journey sound I love is very much in evidence. There was really only one song from Departure that was a hit single, "Any Way You Want It." This was probably helped by the fact that the song was on the Caddyshack soundtrack, which is why the song made it into my collection before the album did. (I'm a soundtrack junkie.)--Dave



22. Christopher Cross, Christopher Cross

This album actually won the 1980 album of the year, record of the year (for "Sailing"), song of the year (again for "Sailing"), and Cross was named the best new artist. Pretty much all because of "Sailing," but the whole album got a lot of play on my friend's tape deck back in the day. An excellent album for singing into your hairbrush microphone.--Archphoenix



21. Ramones, End Of The Century

Some point to End Of The Century as the beginning of the downfall, as the End Of The Ramones, but for me it was their last great album. Phil Spector produced the album, which featured songs a minute or so longer than the usual Ramones fare. But you still got classics like "Do You Remember Rock 'N' Roll Radio?," "Danny Says," "Chinese Rock," and "Rock 'N' Roll High School."--Chris


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